South Africa: all programs

South Africa at a glance

South Africa is Africa's most developed economy, with over 60 million people, two oceans and three capitals: the government sits in Pretoria, parliament in Cape Town and the supreme court in Bloemfontein. The business centre is Johannesburg with its Sandton district, home to banks, the stock exchange and the headquarters of the continent's largest companies. The country has 12 official languages, but English is used in business, banking and documents.

South Africa attracts with a warm sunny climate, strong private healthcare and schools, property open to foreigners and prices well below European levels in dollar terms. The flip side is high crime, inequality and power and water cuts in some areas.

History and government

Dutch settlers founded Cape Town in 1652, the territory later passed to Britain, and in the early 20th century the Union of South Africa was formed. From 1948 to the early 1990s the country lived under racial segregation, abolished after negotiations, and in 1994 Nelson Mandela became president in the first universal elections. Today South Africa is a parliamentary republic with independent courts, a free press and one of the world's most liberal constitutions.

How to move in 2026

Russian citizens enter South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days. Visa applications are filed at a visa centre or consulate, police and medical certificates are needed for each applicant, and processing takes from several weeks to several months. More on the page South Africa digital nomad visa.

Taxes

South African tax residents pay income tax on worldwide income at progressive rates from 18% to 45%. Corporate tax is 27%, VAT 15%, and 20% is withheld on dividends. Part of capital gains is included in taxable income. An exit tax applies when leaving the country and ending tax residence, so moves to and from South Africa are planned in advance. A remote work visa holder living in the country more than 183 days a year may become a tax resident.

Property

Foreigners buy apartments, houses and land in South Africa on the same terms as citizens. A conveyancing lawyer handles the deal, the title is registered in the state deeds registry, and the buyer pays transfer duty on a progressive scale based on price. Banks usually lend non-residents no more than half of the value. Purchase money is brought in through a bank with documentation so that sale proceeds can later be taken out without problems. The places most popular with foreigners are Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard, the nearby winelands towns and gated estates in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Business and companies

A private company is registered online with the companies and intellectual property commission, and a foreigner can own it fully. Working in your own company requires a business visa or another basis. South Africa has a developed banking sector and stock exchange, but exchange controls apply: transfers abroad go through a bank with a stated purpose. Strong sectors are finance, mining, car manufacturing, tourism, wine and customer service outsourcing.

Cost of living

Prices come from two independent price databases for 2026, converted at the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026, about 16.6 rand per dollar. Cape Town is the most expensive city, while Pretoria and Johannesburg are cheaper. Security, alarms, backup power and private health insurance are separate expenses.

Where to live

• Cape Town - sea, mountains, wine and the highest demand among foreigners, pricier than other cities. More in the Cape Town guide.
• Pretoria - the administrative capital with embassies, universities and strong schools. More in the Pretoria guide.
• Johannesburg - the business centre, jobs in finance and large companies, life in secure areas such as Sandton and Rosebank.
• Durban and Umhlanga - the warm Indian Ocean coast all year.
• Garden Route - small towns on the southern coast for a quiet life.

Practicalities

• Climate. Mediterranean with rainy winters in Cape Town, sunny dry winters and summer storms in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
• Safety. Crime is high; foreigners live in secure complexes and do not walk after dark.
• Power and water. Scheduled power cuts have become rare, but backup power and water storage at home remain useful.
• Transport. Traffic drives on the left, a car is needed, and ride-hailing is cheap.
• Healthcare and schools. World-class private hospitals through insurance and strong private schools with a British curriculum.

Leisure

South Africa is one of the most varied countries for leisure: Kruger National Park and private reserves with the big five, Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope, the winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the Garden Route along the southern coast, the Drakensberg mountains and Indian Ocean beaches. Many trips can be done by car over a weekend.

Who South Africa suits

South Africa suits remote workers and retirees with income in foreign currency, families who value English, private schools and healthcare, and property investors. You need to be ready for security issues and life in a gated estate. Murblz specialists choose the visa, calculate taxes and help with banking and buying property. A consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.